“Because for me, the meaning of life is embodied in the possibility for women to live freely.”

Dear comrades…
 Bearers of the consciousness and work of Jineolojî, builders of a free life.

Ever since childhood, I have carried within me a quest: to witness the liberation of women and to open up a space for them to live a life worthy of them. This quest became even more profound when my playmate could no longer play with me, and my sister was sent away in exchange for a sack of bulgur. In the silent resistance of the village women and resurgence of what remained of the goddesses, I saw that liberation was possible. I, too, followed that faith. I have always followed in their footsteps. For I knew that society’s deepest wound was the enslavement of women. Without this understanding, freedom, equality and true democracy would have been impossible.

In proposing Jineolojî, my aim was not merely to create a concept. Our most vital task to bequeath to history would be to redefine women’s existence within its historical and social reality and to free women from the role of object, making them subjects. I wanted to bring to light the wisdom of the goddess – hidden by thousands of years of patriarchal civilisation – and the woman-centred way of life of the Neolithic era. The dagger lodged in the back of society was the enslavement of women; without removing that dagger, no social problem could be resolved at its root. Jineolojî emerged precisely as a science that identifies this dagger, uproots it, and replaces it with the knowledge of a free life.

All the work carried out so far in the name of Jineolojî – what has been written, discussed and organised – has demonstrated that this science is also a way of life. It has been like a breath of fresh air, a breath of life for the female perspective. Freeing women’s identity from sexist patterns, creating a space for thought and action of their own, writing their own history: this was the task and the vital duty to be bequeathed to the history of humanity. These have become the fundamental field of action and the form of struggle of Jineolojî. The principle “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” is important. However, this “becoming” must not take place within the limits imposed by men, but must be realised through women’s own strength. This is why we have asserted that every woman must have a room of her own, a voice of her own and knowledge of her own.

As a man, I have constantly questioned and renewed myself in this process. We have collectively given meaning to this, aiming to liberate ourselves and transform ourselves from centuries-old male domination. I have asserted that the fundamental principle of socialism is the liberation of women. For the yardstick by which a man can be truly socialist is his ability to establish a correct, equal and free relationship with women. In most of the great socialist movements throughout history, this principle has been lacking. This absence has meant that revolutions have remained incomplete. I have striven to fill this gap; I have sought to be worthy of the goddesses. Transforming men and inviting them to liberate themselves alongside women has become an indispensable task for me.

Today we face a new process. The quest for peace and democracy is as much a process of political negotiation as it is one of social reconstruction. It will be women who take the lead in this reconstruction. For more than half of every significant step taken so far has been achieved thanks to the work, resilience and intelligence of women. And moving onwards, it will continue to be so. Jineolojî must continue to form the scientific and ideological foundation of this leadership.

I shall continue to stand by your side, to reflect and to create alongside you whenever you need me. Because for me, the meaning of life is embodied in the possibility for women to live freely.

May this conference address both the past and the future of Jineolojî. May it correctly define women’s existence. May it deepen our understanding of a life of freedom. My unfinished project will be completed thanks to the strength of these discussions. My trust in you is absolute. Do not forget that I am always with you.

With my love and my endless longing…

Abdullah Öcalan

Imrali